How do I register to play for a Sunday league club?

Under the FA Standard Code of Rules for open age football (FA Handbook 2026-27), which all grassroots adult leagues in England must follow:

• Your club registers you through The FA's Player Registration System, and you can play once the league has approved the registration.
• If the registration isn't fully and correctly completed, it isn't processed and you count as unregistered.
• Registrations last one season only, so you are registered again each season.
• Same-day registration: some leagues allow a limited number of players to be registered on match day, if a club officer emails the league a set number of hours before kick-off. You can't play again until the full registration is approved.
• Your club must name you (and any substitutes) to the referee before kick-off within the league's deadline, or you can't take part.
• Contract (paid) players are only allowed if registered with the same club's team at Steps 1-6 of the National League System or Tiers 1-4 of the women's pyramid.
• If you owe a football debt you can still register, but you'll be suspended if you don't keep to the Football Debt Recovery Regulations.

Your league sets its own registration fee (if any), deadlines and the number of same-day registrations allowed.